Research :: Origami Artists

One of the most famous Origami artists in the world was Akira Yoshizawa (Origami Maniacs, 2011).

He was able to fold papers into many shapes from large to small by using many folding techniques (2011). His Origami works were mostly animals. Shapes of Origami are proportioned, geometric and angular, but not perfectly symmetry and not flat. Yoshizawa always used a plain color papers to create Origami. Even though there is only one color paper per one character, some of his Origami works, he painted on papers to create lines or pattern, make it looks more realistic and interesting.

The colors of papers that he usually used are light and pastel. Some of his works were created to tell the stories, but some are not. 

Other Origami artist that I admire is Samuel Randlett.

He is the author of “The Art of Origami” (Sam Randlett, 2011). The book includes Origami folding techniques, photograph, and demonstration, which are very helpful (2011).

Randlett’s Origami folding style is quite similar to Yoshizawa. He used plain pastel color papers to create his work like Yoshizawa, but he mostly used more than one paper to fold a character. He was not only created Origami animals, but he was also created flowers, purses, boxes, ornaments, and many more in weird shapes. 

Another Origami artist is Florence Temko.

She really had passion in Origami. According to Gonzalez (2009), she could fold a bird from piece of paper while chatting with friends, and she also taught origami at schools, libraries and museums. Her Origami works were various. She could fold animals, and many typical objects. She mostly used color papers with pattern and lines to create Origami.

However, she did not limit herself with any kind of papers. The colors of papers that she usually used were vivid and bright, but some of them were dull and soft. 

It is very interesting that even a normal paper that we use for writing can be turned into amazing shapes and tell story. The way papers were fold into shapes and the texture of papers artists used are very stunning. Those three Origami artists really inspired me.

Reference:

Gonzalez, B. (2009, December 5). Florence Temko; origami expert was teacher, author | UTSanDiego.com. Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/Dec/05/florence-temko-origami-expert-was-teacher-author/

Origami Maniacs: The Greatest Origami Artist: Akira Yoshizawa. (2011, September 8). Origami Maniacs. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://origamimaniacs.blogspot.com/2011/09/greatest-origami-artist-akira-yoshizawa.html

Sam Randlett – a true Founding Father | Crease is the word... (2011, October 22). Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.nickrobinson.info/origami/wp_ori/?p=1789

Temko Origami Collection: Unpublished Works. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2014, from http://www.origami-resource-center.com/Temko-unpublished-3.html